Ritual, mobile communication and the generation of social cohesion Rich Ling

1. Ritual, mobile communication and the generation of social cohesion Rich Ling

2. How is society possible?

3. Sociology and the electronic revolution • The interaction of technology, society and social cohesion is one of the major projects of sociology • The development of industrialism • Based on the development of steam power • Major changes in social institutions • The role of work • The church • The family • The city

4. Sociology and the electronic revolution • Has the development of the transistor (1947) been as consequential? • There is still concern with regards social cohesion • Putnam and the loss of social capital • McPherson et al. and the lost of people in whom we confide • What is holding society together? (to be continued. . . )

5. Do we have individual agency or are we influenced by our social contact?

6. Social networks are important • Dying of “a broken heart” (The widow effect) • Obesity • Smoking • Sexual activity • Sickness • Emotions

7. The Spread of Obesity in a Large Social Network Over 32 Years (Christakis & Fowler) A person’s chances of becoming obese increased by 57% if he or she had a friend who became obese in a given interval. Among pairs of adult siblings, if one sibling became obese, the chance that the other would become obese increased by 40%. If one spouse became obese, the likelihood that the other spouse would become obese increased by 37%. These effects were not seen among neighbors in the immediate geographic location. Persons of the same sex had relatively greater influence on each other as compared with those of the opposite sex. The spread of smoking cessation did not account for the spread of obesity in the network.

9. iPhone social network timeline Q308 Q307 Q407 Q108 Q208 June 29 2007: iPhone introduced in The US July 11 2008: iPhone 3G release 114 nodes 86 relations 35 components 1862 nodes 2161 relations 266 components 6014 nodes 7989 relations 506 components 11287 nodes 16003 relations 921 components 12352 nodes 16497 relations 1144 components

10. iPhone social network timeline Q209 Q309 Q408 Q109 June 19 2009: iPhone 3GS release 13371 nodes 17773 relations 1269 components 17304 nodes 24879 relations 1418 components 32918 nodes 55877 relations 1720 components 61675 nodes 136871 relations 1458 components

11. Social networks are where social cohesion is generated

12. Au E An F H Young teen males: Social network analysis

13. Young teen males – Interaction events within the group

14. Andraes Erik Andrew Jan Håken_ Teen male social network

15. What is the role of the mobile phone in groups?

16. Mobile as an instrument of the small group • Half of all calls and text go to a handful of people • Mobile communication is an instrument of the small group • We call to a very small number • Has an instrumental dimension • Has an expressive dimension • It INCREASES social cohesion • The realm of mobile communication is voice and text • Some IP based services are starting to be used

17. The factors effecting the “tightness” of intimate groups

18. Mobile telephony and bounded intimacy Reid and Reid 2004

19. What is the mechanism that allows us to link with others? Ritual

20. Contemporary ritual

21. Durkheimian ritual • Not obsessive behavior • Ritual interaction • It is the mutually recognized focus on a process that engenders a common mood • Being engrossed in a situation • Effervescence • Barriers to those who are not a part of the group • Ritual interaction creates a common recognition of shared status • It can have “liminal” aspects (minor transgression against norms) • Power dimensions • Failed rituals • Ritual is a catalyst for social cohesion • Most successful rituals are copresent

22. Australian Aboriginal ritual

23. The “burning man” festival

31. From Durkheim to Goffman • Durkheimian rituals are authored by third parties • Priests • Rock musicians • Political operatives • Goffmanian rituals often authored by the participants • For Goffman ritual is a continual part of daily life

32. . . . rituals performed as stand-ins for supernatural entities are everywhere in decay, as are extensive ceremonial agendas involving long strings of obligatory rites. What remains are brief rituals one individual performs for and to another, attesting to civility and good will on the performer’s part and the recipient’s possession of a small patrimony of sacredness. What remains, in brief, are interpersonal rituals (Goffman 1971, 61).

34. Mediated gossip as a ritual form • Mobile (and landline) communication can be used for gossip • Various ritual techniques and devices are drawn upon • Mobile communication extends the boundaries of copresence • Goffmanian small scale ritual

35. Mediated gossip as a ritual form Observation: A man dressed in a t-shirt, jeans and jogging shoes was standing in the entry area of the Paddington – Heathrow train. As the train traveled towards Heathrow he said: He is just that kind of guy. (response from interlocutor) Let me say it like this; I am not allowed to even call you. (response from interlocutor) . . . Yeah, he’s just like that. (response from interlocutor) She is real hysterical and Steve said she was like that.

36. Mediated humor as a ritual form Observation A middle-aged man in casual clothes was walking toward the street exit of a department store on a Saturday morning. It was raining outside so he paused near a display window while he dialed his mobile phone. After dialing, he raised his phone to his ear and waited for the party on the other end to take the phone. The other party answered and the man’s portion of the dialogue was approximately as follows: Hi, I was in Pentik’s (a local store) and they did not have it (laugh). (response from other person) Yeah, I don’t know. (response form other person) Yeah. (response from other person) OK, yeah bye. The man then glanced at his phone, terminated the call, put the phone in his pocket, and left the building.

37. Mediated romance Leticia: Does it mak u hapy 2 stel a kiss? Remember tho shalt not stel, best to ask! Captain: I kno wen 2 do it Leticia: Com show me how so I myt also Captain: Jaz lyk a magican… I nevr reveal a secret… Leticia: (sent a message with the graphic of a dancing bear) Captain: wers my kiss? Leticia: Y dnt u cum n get it? Latr, im nt yet going 2 bed. I’s stil her at d prayer meetn, prayn 4 you… Captain: Ur not praun. Ur thnkn of me (B. Clayton – Ellwood)

38. What is bounded solidarity?

39. Mobile telephony and bounded intimacy

40. Mobile telephony and bounded intimacy